Employee Flourishing: What Research Says Helps Teams Thrive

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Original article

Annual Workplace Wellbeing Report 2026 finds majority of US workers still languishing

Gies College of Business · University of Illinois · February 4, 2026

Read the full story at Gies College of Business →

Research from the Gies College of Business at the University of Illinois shows that teams with both autonomy and support are far more likely to flourish. The Workplace Well-Being Report 2026 found that 61 percent of US workers are languishing. The good news is that the levers that help are ones leaders can actually pull.

What the Gies researchers found about thriving teams

The Center for Professional Responsibility in Business and Society surveyed 2,000 US workers. Here is what stood out:

In "empowered squads" with high autonomy and high support, 68 percent of workers flourish. In neglected teams, only 10 percent do.
34 percent of languishing employees say they intend to look for new work in the next 12 months.
Flourishing workers are more likely to reach out to others when work is stressful (68 percent compared with 50 percent of languishing workers).

Why it matters for your organization

Languishing has a human cost and a retention cost. The report found it across every age, income and region, which means it is about the conditions of work, not one group of people. Leaders who give people a real say, back them up and keep expectations clear are building the conditions where people flourish.

How IHUBApp helps your people flourish

Support starts with connection. An IHUBApp Hubsite gives your organization one connected place for communication, events, content and community, so people stay informed, take part and know where to reach out. Teams can share updates, celebrate wins and find each other without juggling five different tools. More than 12,000 Hubsites have launched for organizations building something that matters.

Frequently asked questions

What percentage of US workers are flourishing at work?

According to the Workplace Well-Being Report 2026, 39 percent of US workers are flourishing and 61 percent are languishing. The researchers note this closely mirrors their previous findings.

What can leaders do to build a flourishing workplace?

The report suggests three levers: design teams for both autonomy and support, strengthen the ethical climate with clear expectations, and make healthy coping realistic. That last one includes protecting focus time and making restorative breaks and reaching out normal.

Can employees learn to flourish at work?

Yes, according to the report. The 3Rs that separate flourishing workers (reframe, reach out and reset) are learnable behaviors, not fixed traits, and they work best when the workplace makes them safe and realistic.

What is one way your team makes it easier for people to reach out when work gets hard? Share it in the comments.

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